High school in Fayetteville to operate under code yellow on Thursday following social media threat

E.E. Smith High School will operate on a code yellow status Thursday after a social media post threatening the school circulated online.

2026-03-12

In a post on Facebook, Fayetteville police said officers were aware of a “concerning social media post and video,” and officers take all potential threats to schools “with the utmost seriousness.”

“The safety of our students and our community is always our top priority,” the post read in part.

Cumberland County School officials said they are also aware of the social media post referencing E.E. Smith High School.

Officials said school administrators immediately notified Fayetteville police and are working closely with law enforcement as they investigate.

Additional school resource officers and a heightened police presence will be on and around campus on Thursday. 

According to Wake County schools, "Schools enter a code yellow lockdown if there is something in the community that may pose a threat to the school, but there is no imminent threat to the school. During a code yellow lockdown, all students return to and remain inside the building. Activities inside the school continue as normal."